So many of you who know me well know that I have always had a heart for Spanish culture. I worked with Hispanic children in high school. I was a Spanish minor. I went to Argentina last summer. I have a desire to speak Spanish, but I often lack the confidence to do so. I know a lot in theory, but when it comes time to actually use it- I freeze. I am too worried about looking stupid or saying something wrong. So I normally just hang back and let the fluent people do the talking. 
But I think God has other plans for me during our time in Latin
America. Last week while we were still at Lake Atitlan, our team took
some time to do some ATL ministry, which means Ask the Lord. Basically
we pray and ask God to lead us towards a specific ministry or person
that He has for us. So last week as our team began our ATL time, we
were not exactly sure what God had for us. We started walking around in
the neighborhood by our hotel and prayed for God to lead us. We ended
up at a little house behind our hotel attempting to communicate with a
family to see if they needed prayer about anything. It suddenly
occurred to me that no one on my team knew fluent Spanish. Marissa is
on about the same level as me, but neither of us would call ourselves
fluent. And in that moment, I suddenly knew it was my turn to step up
to the plate. So I started talking to the family and tried to figure
out if they needed prayer about anything. They seemed to be basically
ok. We prayed for them and left. It was nothing monumental. No one got
healed or saved or anything like that. But as we were walking away from
their little house, I felt the Lord whisper to me- that was for you.
God led us to that home so that I would understand that I can do this.
Marissa even told me, that even though she knows some Spanish too, in
that moment she knew she was supposed to let me do the talking. I might
not always know all of the words or the correct grammar, but that
doesn’t mean God doesn’t want to use me. I know that God desires to stretch me and grow me in huge ways during this trip. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. I am so excited to see what He has next in store.
America. Last week while we were still at Lake Atitlan, our team took
some time to do some ATL ministry, which means Ask the Lord. Basically
we pray and ask God to lead us towards a specific ministry or person
that He has for us. So last week as our team began our ATL time, we
were not exactly sure what God had for us. We started walking around in
the neighborhood by our hotel and prayed for God to lead us. We ended
up at a little house behind our hotel attempting to communicate with a
family to see if they needed prayer about anything. It suddenly
occurred to me that no one on my team knew fluent Spanish. Marissa is
on about the same level as me, but neither of us would call ourselves
fluent. And in that moment, I suddenly knew it was my turn to step up
to the plate. So I started talking to the family and tried to figure
out if they needed prayer about anything. They seemed to be basically
ok. We prayed for them and left. It was nothing monumental. No one got
healed or saved or anything like that. But as we were walking away from
their little house, I felt the Lord whisper to me- that was for you.
God led us to that home so that I would understand that I can do this.
Marissa even told me, that even though she knows some Spanish too, in
that moment she knew she was supposed to let me do the talking. I might
not always know all of the words or the correct grammar, but that
doesn’t mean God doesn’t want to use me. I know that God desires to stretch me and grow me in huge ways during this trip. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. I am so excited to see what He has next in store.
And now for a little update about my team… Team NEON and another team, Team Agape8, left Lake Atitlan on Saturday and traveled to Puerto Barrios which is little town on the coast of Guatemala. We will be here for the next three weeks. Our contact is a Christian radio ministry, but we are doing various service projects in the city. So far this week we have been doing some construction work for a family at the church we went to on Sunday. This afternoon we also got to go to a local orphanage and hang out with the kids there, which I think was alot of fun for all of us. It looks like the orphanage needs a lot of work, so it could definitely turn into a huge ministry for us.
Please continue to pray for my team as we settle into this crazy new lifestyle. This month both teams are living together in one apartment/house type thing and we have 16 people sharing one bathroom. And let me tell you… it is HOT here in Puerto Barrios. I think we are all slowly adjusting, but the heat can really make you feel exhausted. There is already some sickness circulating amongst the teams, so please pray for people to feel good so that we can minister effectively. However, overall we are doing really well and having fun together. I thank God everyday for my team and I hope that you will continue to remember all of us in your prayers!
